You know that feeling when you walk into an old house and the floorboards creak just so, sending a shiver up your spine? That\u2019s the sensation Carissa Orlando captures perfectly in her debut novel, The September House. It\u2019s the kind of book that makes you want to sleep with the lights on, but you can\u2019t put it down long enough to reach for the switch.<\/p>\n
Margaret and Hal thought they\u2019d found their dream home in the sprawling Victorian on Hawthorn Street. Sure, the price seemed too good to be true, but doesn\u2019t everyone hope for that stroke of luck? Little did they know they\u2019d be getting way more than they bargained for.<\/p>\n
Orlando wastes no time plunging readers into the deep end of the haunted house<\/a> genre. Within the first few chapters, we\u2019re introduced to walls that literally bleed, ghostly children with gruesome injuries, and a basement that harbors secrets darker than your average cobweb-filled cellar. Oh, and did I mention September is when all hell breaks loose? Talk about seasonal affective disorder.<\/p>\n At the heart of this supernatural maelstrom is Margaret, our steadfast (or maybe just stubborn) protagonist. While most people would be calling U-Haul faster than you can say \u201cpoltergeist,\u201d Margaret digs in her heels. This is her house, dammit, and no amount of paranormal activity is going to chase her out.<\/p>\n Orlando\u2019s characterization of Margaret is where the book really shines. She\u2019s not your typical horror heroine\u2014no screaming and running up the stairs when she should be heading for the front door. Instead, Margaret approaches the hauntings with an almost clinical detachment. She catalogs the ghosts like she\u2019s taking inventory, coming up with rules and systems to coexist with the supernatural<\/a> squatters.<\/p>\n But Margaret\u2019s determination comes at a price. Her husband Hal can\u2019t take the pressure and bails, leaving Margaret alone with the ghosts (both literal and metaphorical). When their daughter Katherine shows up looking for answers, the tension ratchets up to eleven.<\/p>\n Orlando expertly weaves together past and present, slowly revealing the dark history of the house and its former inhabitants. The flashbacks to the Vale family, the original owners, are particularly chilling. Let\u2019s just say that if you thought your family had issues, wait until you meet the Vales.<\/p>\n What sets The September House apart from your run-of-the-mill haunted house story is Orlando\u2019s unique blend of horror and psychological drama. Yes, there are plenty of jump scares and creepy moments that\u2019ll make your skin crawl. But beneath the supernatural trappings lies a deeper exploration of family<\/a>, trauma, and the lengths we\u2019ll go to hold onto something we think defines us.<\/p>\n The relationship between Margaret and Katherine is particularly well-drawn. As Katherine uncovers more about her mother\u2019s life in the house, we see the complexities of their bond laid bare. It\u2019s a testament to Orlando\u2019s skill that amidst all the ghostly goings-on, the human drama remains just as compelling.<\/p>\n One of the book\u2019s greatest strengths is its cast of spectral characters. From Fredricka, the helpful (if occasionally unsettling) ghostly housekeeper, to Elias, the bite-happy boy who haunts the upstairs, each spirit has a distinct personality and backstory. Orlando manages to make even the most horrifying apparitions oddly sympathetic\u2014no small feat when dealing with characters who are, quite literally, axe murderers.<\/p>\n Special mention has to go to Master Vale, the big bad lurking in the basement. Without spoiling too much, let\u2019s just say he makes your average movie monster look like a cuddly kitten in comparison. The scenes where Margaret confronts him are some of the most pulse-pounding in the book.<\/p>\n Orlando\u2019s prose is deceptively straightforward at first. But as the story progresses and reality starts to blur, her writing takes on an almost feverish quality. Sentences twist and turn, mirroring Margaret\u2019s increasingly fractured mental state. It\u2019s disorienting in the best possible way, pulling you deeper into the house\u2019s madness.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a dark humor running through the book as well. Margaret\u2019s matter-of-fact approach to the hauntings leads to some genuinely funny moments amidst the horror. One particular scene involving a ghostly tea party had me laughing out loud\u2014before remembering that I probably shouldn\u2019t be chuckling at the antics of murdered children.<\/p>\n No house is perfect, and The September House does have a few weak spots. The pacing in the middle section can drag a bit, with Margaret\u2019s day-to-day life in the haunted house sometimes feeling repetitive. And while the finale is suitably explosive, some readers might find the resolution a tad too neat given the buildup.<\/p>\n There are also a few plot threads that feel underdeveloped. Hal\u2019s disappearance, while central to the story, doesn\u2019t get quite as much exploration as it deserves. And the hints at Margaret\u2019s own family history of mental illness could have been fleshed out more to add another layer to her character.<\/p>\n These minor quibbles aside, The September House is an impressive debut. Orlando shows a real knack for building atmosphere and tension, and her characters feel refreshingly real despite the supernatural setting. It\u2019s the kind of book that lingers with you long after you\u2019ve turned the final page, making you side-eye that creaky closet door or wonder what\u2019s really lurking in your own basement.<\/p>\n For a first novel, Orlando displays remarkable confidence in her storytelling. She\u2019s not afraid to take risks, blending genres and playing with readers\u2019 expectations. While The September House might be her first published work, it certainly doesn\u2019t read like a rookie effort.<\/p>\n Fans of Shirley Jackson\u2019s The Haunting of Hill House will find plenty to love here. Orlando shares Jackson\u2019s knack for psychological horror<\/a> and unreliable narrators<\/a>. There are also echoes of Stephen King\u2019s The Shining in the way the house itself becomes a character, though Orlando\u2019s take feels fresher and more modern.<\/p>\n For readers looking for similar contemporary haunted house tales, I\u2019d recommend The Grip of It by Jac Jemc or Linger by Lisa Voisin. Both share The September House\u2019s focus on the psychological toll of living in a haunted space.<\/p>\n The September House is a strong contender for one of the best horror debuts of the year. Carissa Orlando has announced herself as a voice to watch in the genre, crafting a story that\u2019s both terrifying and deeply human. It\u2019s the kind of book that makes you want to double-check the locks on your doors\u2014but also has you pondering the nature of home, family, and the ghosts we all carry with us.<\/p>\n So, should you buy a ticket to The September House? Absolutely. Just don\u2019t blame me if you find yourself eyeing your own home suspiciously afterward. And maybe\u2026 avoid the basement for a while.<\/p>\n Horror fans looking for a fresh take on haunted houses The faint of heart (seriously, some scenes are intense) So, there you have it, folks. The September House by Carissa Orlando \u2013 a debut that proves sometimes the most terrifying monsters are the ones we invite into our homes. Just remember, if the walls start bleeding, it might be time to call a realtor\u2026 or an exorcist.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You know that feeling when you walk into an old house and the floorboards creak just so, sending a shiver up your spine? That\u2019s the sensation Carissa Orlando captures perfectly in her debut novel, The September House. It\u2019s the kind of book that makes you want to sleep with the lights on, but you can\u2019t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=347"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=347"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=347"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}A Protagonist Who Refuses to Be Scared Away<\/h3>\n
The Cost of Staying<\/h4>\n
A Fresh Take on a Classic Genre<\/h2>\n
A House Full of Memorable \u201cResidents\u201d<\/h3>\n
Style That Creeps Up On You<\/h2>\n
A Few Creaky Floorboards<\/h3>\n
A Strong Foundation for a New Voice in Horror<\/h2>\n
Comparisons and Recommendations<\/h3>\n
Final Thoughts: A House Worth Visiting<\/h2>\n
Who Should Read This Book:<\/h4>\n
\nReaders who enjoy psychological thrillers with a supernatural twist
\nAnyone who\u2019s ever wondered what they\u2019d do if their dream home turned into a nightmare<\/p>\nWho Should Maybe Skip It:<\/h4>\n
\nReaders looking for a purely psychological thriller without supernatural elements
\nPeople currently in the process of buying an old Victorian home (maybe wait until after you\u2019ve moved in)<\/p>\n